Police Arrest Herbal Drink Producer Over 29 Deaths In Ondo
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected producer of a herbal drink allegedly linked to the deaths of 29 people in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” was arrested following reports that about 29 residents had died, while approximately 60 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming the herbal drinks.
Fourteen other suspects were also arrested for allegedly selling or consuming the products despite an order banning their sale and consumption in the affected communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the situation had been brought under control following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions.
According to him, Babatunde is suspected of producing substances containing methanol and is currently assisting investigators.
“Substances suspected to be methanol were also recovered and have been subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths,” Jimoh said.
The police spokesman added that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic procedures.
He said post-mortem examinations would provide further medical evidence to determine the actual causes of the deaths.
Jimoh also disclosed that health officials had intensified intervention efforts, with several youths from the affected communities taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
The 14 other suspects arrested over alleged sale and consumption of the banned herbal drinks were identified as Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for discreet and comprehensive investigation.
Jimoh further disclosed that a team of detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence and advance the investigation.
The suspect, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” was arrested following reports that about 29 residents had died, while approximately 60 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming the herbal drinks.
Fourteen other suspects were also arrested for allegedly selling or consuming the products despite an order banning their sale and consumption in the affected communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the situation had been brought under control following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions.
According to him, Babatunde is suspected of producing substances containing methanol and is currently assisting investigators.
“Substances suspected to be methanol were also recovered and have been subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths,” Jimoh said.
The police spokesman added that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic procedures.
He said post-mortem examinations would provide further medical evidence to determine the actual causes of the deaths.
Jimoh also disclosed that health officials had intensified intervention efforts, with several youths from the affected communities taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
The 14 other suspects arrested over alleged sale and consumption of the banned herbal drinks were identified as Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for discreet and comprehensive investigation.
Jimoh further disclosed that a team of detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence and advance the investigation.
